Housing Justice

What does homelessness and lack of decent housing mean to the churches in twenty-first century Britain?

We know how local and central government are responding but what have the churches to say - is there anything distinctive about our response? What is our vision?

The central Christian message is that as God loves us, whoever and whatever we are, we must love him. But Jesus commands more: Jesus said “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

Who is our neighbour? Jesus directs us to see our neighbour in anyone in need and in that person to see Christ himself. “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me.

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35, 40.

What are we called to do? “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; When you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?" Isaiah 58;7

We are called to bring new hope and opportunity in an atmosphere of unconditional love and compassion so that those who are broken-heartened and wounded can rebuild damaged lives.

We are called to restore the self-respect of those who have been humiliated by what has happened to them. In humility, we listen to what they want to tell us about their lives. By listening and responding in compassion, our own lives are transformed.

We all have different gifts to bring. It might be in the form of practical help- preparing food for homeless people, seeing a local need and gathering like minded people together or dare I say sitting on a management committee-but we all have a unique contribution to make.

At the same time, churches are not simply in the business of binding up wounds- we are also called to ask awkward questions about why the wounds were inflicted in the first place. We can’t avoid raising structural and political questions about housing and homelessness. We will do that best if churches, of whatever denomination, can work together.

When we work alongside homeless and badly housed people, we are responding to the challenge to love our neighbour, we are responding to the call to put our faith into action, we are responding to the vision of a society where everyone is valued and everyone has a home.

May God grant us the strength and vision to respond